Who do you call when shopping for a home??

Realtor? YES. Loan Officer? YES. There are a number of professionals who are critical to the home buying process!

What about your INSURANCE AGENT? Your agent may not be on the top of your list when shopping for a home, but you will want to call them earlier in the home buying process than you may think!

Why? Some homes cost significantly more to insure than others, which can drive up your monthly house payment. In other cases, there may be needed repairs before you can get coverage. That's something you don't want to discover the week before you are scheduled to close.

Here are some properties that can be costly to insure:

Foreclosures/Bank Owned Homes: These properties can be great deals, but they can also carry a number of issues such as peeling paint, a terrible roof, or a falling down deck. These issues would need to be addressed before the property would qualify for hazard insurance!

Older Homes: You need to make sure these homes meet construction code!

Homes with safety issues: Do all steps and stairs have handrails? Does your fence have a pool around it??

My advice? Call your insurance agent when you find a home that you want to put an offer on! This will prevent premium surprises during the loan process and any surprises that will prevent you from closing! It is important to work with an insurance agent that you trust. Do you need me to refer someone to you? I am happy to point you in the direction of trusted, local insurance professionals.

Happy House Hunting!!